Just Do It. Don't let fear rule you.

SOLD - June 8, 2013

Just Do It.  Don't let fear rule you.  That was my thought as I began my very first canvas.  It's very similar to an art journal page I did a few weeks ago.  I was comfortable with the design so I thought I'd give it a try.   

What changed in a few weeks?  My friends encouraged me and a person I do not know commented on my blog.  Robin Mead left me this comment... 

It is really fantastic...Thanks for stopping by y blog too...Thanks so much for your encouraging words...we all thrive from that....about the canvas..instead of trying to do an image, or drawing on the canvas...just use it for backgrounds...play around with drippng...spraying..scraping...stamping...etc to get a nice bunch of color and texture...dont worry yourself with getting a perfect composition or image..just play with color and texture...for sure that will free you up to experiment on canvas..believe me we have all had those fears...but this is what helped me to over come that obstacle..maybe you too..!

I went to Robin's blog and her work is fantastic.  I really like her use of color and her style.  Her work speaks to me.  I've been mulling her words over in my head for days now.  So I did what she suggested.... well kind of.... I started with a "cereal box canvas".  I look a cereal box, cut it to canvas size, gessoed it, made some homemade spray acrylic paints and started spraying colors on it.  I sprayed water on them and let them drip.  Then the "canvas" sat there for several days.  Every time I looked at it, I had a happy feeling.  I don't know if I'll do anything else to it or not.  I just know that Robin's words and that "canvas" gave me courage to move on to a real canvas.  

This is a safe piece.  I'd done one similar so it felt safe. I had a friend who told me she would buy my art journal one if it was on canvas so I did a similar one and maybe she will like it too.  I added a few things & changed the colors a bit because I just can't do the same one twice.  Each has to be an original.  I learned things from the first one and added my knowledge to this one.  They could be companion pieces.   

The flowers are cut from chipboard using sizzix dies and it was painted with craft acrylic paints.  

I want to thank Robin Mead and my M3 buddies for all your encouragement.  We never know how a few words of support will affect someone else.  I grow daily, in part, from your comments and gentle support.

Link to:  APR, Creative Everyday, Glue It Tuesday, A Year in the Life of An Art Journal, Paint Party Friday